Councillors are feeling lonely during advice surgeries (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Councillors are feeling lonely during advice surgeries

6:53pm Tuesday 28th August 2007 in Chard By Steve Sowden

COUNCILLORS in Chard are feeling lonely when they hold their regular advice surgeries at the library in the Lace Mill.

Members of Chard Town Council last week spoke of their disappointment at sometimes waiting to listen to residents about their concerns and complaints, only to receive very few visitors or even none at all.

Cllr Jenny Kenton said: "I was dismayed that I only got one visitor at my surgery at the library.

"I think we should perhaps move the surgeries to the Guildhall and make ourselves more approachable."

The surgeries are currently held in the Lace Mill on a Saturday morning between 10am and 11am and councillors are on a rota which sees them meeting the public every 15th week.

But following Cllr Kenton's lonely experience of her surgery, she asked the town council to discuss the effectiveness of the advice sessions and formally suggested that they be moved to the more prominent Guildhall building where there would be more people milling about.

Cllr Dave Keitch said: "Anything that makes us more accessible should be a good thing. I think a move to the Guildhall should be supported."

And Cllr Dave Mears added: "I would support this 100 per cent. I had three people at my surgery, but they all came at once and they couldn't all wait to speak to me."

But Cllr Dave Bulmer said: "I do agree that the Lace Mill is isolated, but I have had lots of people come to my surgery.

"Cllr Kenton is a new councillor and I am sure that when she becomes more established in the role she will get more visitors."

One suggestion put forward was to offer people a cup of coffee while they waited to speak to a councillor.

But Cllr Jean Smith said: "People will come in just to have a coffee and then go again and I know some will just come in to have a chat."

And Cllr Joe Armstrong said: "If people don't come in to see us, it must mean that they haven't got anything to complain about."

The council agreed that the surgeries should be held on a monthly basis at the Guildhall on either a Friday or Saturday with a minimum of three councillors in attendance.